Amazing. Like, even the designs are more appealing to kids imo. Why would anyone pick/play Forces over this? Forces looks so so awful, not just in comparison, just as a game. Is it me, or have all the modern sonic games got this dark tone to them now? And I don't mean like, Majora's Mask kind of dark atmosphere, or like blood or something. Just look at how boring and dull the Forces trailer looks. Like, I get it, it's edgy, the city's being destroyed right? Oh, I wonder who the villain's gonna be that could have done something so bad right? so 'epic' and 'grand' of an adventure right? No. It just looks like a brown mess. Now look at Mania. How bright and colourful it is. It exudes personality and something creative. And you get to play as Tails and Knuckles again too! In the modern sonic games, you'll be lucky if you get to play as a 2nd sonic, let alone any other character.

Well, the easiest answer is that not everyone prefers 2D games, so Forces obviously would appeal to them even with Mania being everything that Sonic should be.
Modern Sonic these days just seems confused on everything, even if the gameplay can be fun at times.

Honestly, I think both games look really good and will get both of them.

I like the old school 2D Sonic games, but I also like the modern Sonic games too. I'm a bit bored of the narative amongst some that there hasn't been a good Sonic game since the mega-drive, there's been plenty Adventure 2, Colours, Generations, Lost World, even the day levels of Night and Day were pretty good. I'm not that interested in customisizable Sonic - but if in Forces we just get a serviceable unofficial Generations sequel - I'd be really happy.

I really enjoyed the 2D/3D hybrid design introduced in Unleashed; and after mastering several of the levels to the point of being able to maintain a near-constant speed boost, I found myself repeatedly returning to the game because it was both exhilarating and fun. Learning a level, honing your reflexes, and being able to just boost through in a clean speed run is among my favourite experiences in gaming. That is why I care about Forces.

We've also barely seen anything from it, so it's too early to write off things like art and creativity - though I don't doubt that it won't boast the same level of 'coolness' as what you see in the games of yore. They do tend to ground the modern games more, besides Colours.

Gotta feel sorry for Sega uploading that opening 5 days early. Especially considering the entire game and opening/ending got leaked and streamed in full last night for those awake and aware enough to find it.

Usually I'm not one for the spoils, especially for Sonic - but as i won't get to play this game for months considering i have no applicable console for it to be played on yet... I let it slide. And alongside the community following that Mark chap across multiple streaming sites as SEGA shut him down again and again before giving up, it was good fun.

From what I've seen so far... this game is good. Like reeeeaaaally Good. They've nailed it for classic playability, references to past games (you thought The Sonic 2 Boss in Green Hill Zone was something wait until the Chemical Plant Boss surprise, it's genius...) but overall the game it really kills it for nostalgia levels, even during the new Zones - forget Sonic 4, this is the true followup if you want to feel like you're back in the 90's again.

I'm not posting any vids/image spoils (I'm sure you guys can find 'em). But I will detail the final list of Zones (barring an obvious 'final zone' that he didn't make it too in the play through) below. So at your own risk...

Well, it appears there's there may be more of a connection to the two games coming out this year than we all originally thought...

DO NOT press below for Mania ending spoils if you don't want to read.

The Final "True"Ending was just leaked for Sonic's Playthrough... and it very clearly indicates that this game leads directly into Sonic Forces with that final cutscene, meaning this is to be taken as a prequel as such.

There were indications from the beginning of Mania that had fans speculating/on edge because The Purple Gem Energy Source that is the main cause of ruckus in Mania makes the exact same transfer noises as Infinitie's purple cube attack/colour scheme from the Forces Trailer. Not to mention the final base on Little Planet (Titanic Monach Zone) which is a giant Engman Death Egg Robo you have to climb looks suspiciously similar to those attacking in the Forces game. But Sonic's true ending consists of him being dragged through a wormhole with the Purple Energy Gem away from Little Planet before cutting to the credits whilst Tails and Knuckles watch from a distance. (If you don't collect all the Chaos Emeralds he is simply there with his friends as little planet is released into the distance)

Well, we all wondered how/why he ended up in Forces. So...

On another note, it's great to see that Knuckles Campaign does play very much like in S3&K - and he will have his own variations and paths through levels that Sonic cannot access. Hell, Green Hill Zone Act 1 is entirely different to Sonic's Act 1 and takes place exclusively underground. This makes me happy.

My one piece of criticism I have is could they not have moved going supersonic to its own separate button? I know you tapped jump twice in the old games, but it's weird that basically you can't use the drop dash / fly / glide if you have more than 50 rings. There are plenty other buttons that could have been used.

I managed to glitch in one of the pipes as Tails.
I was going too fast and wanted to go the other way. Skidded right into one and was still standing inside it. Moved in the direction I wanted to go, and then the pipe physics start - while I was facing the wrong way, so instead of going through the pipe I instead just roll to the right endlessly, cutting through all the stage while dropping slowly downward as well.